Threats and Challenges

The introduction of a federal law in Argentina that proclaimed the Ruddy-headed goose as a pest back in the 1960s, promoted the active destruction of the species and persecution at its wintering grounds, and contributed to the decline of its population. Although this proclamation was overruled in 1985, the introduction of Patagonian Grey Fox as a control for the European Rabbit on Tierra del Fuego has contributed to the species’ decline in recent years. In addition to this, factors such as trophy-hunting, excessive use of agro-chemicals in Buenos Aires province and habitat modification in both Chile and Argentina are some of the current threats that the Ruddy-headed Goose is facing.